Strip feeding mechanism



Dec. 7, 1954 c. E. ADAMS 2,696,380

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. GEO/L E. ADAMS Dec. 7, 1954 c. E. ADAMS 2,696,380

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

v INVENTOR. CEO/L E. ADAMS Dec. 7, 1954 c. E. ADAMS 2,696,380

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. GE 0/ L E. A DA MS 5 Sheets-Sheet '4 Filed Nov. 2. 1948 8 O 6 7. 2 l 7 7 8 l. 1 V M 4 m 3 e o 8/ 1 w 1 3 fi W w 4 4 I F 0 7 fl/ \w 7 M .2" kw k F n m n 7 M m FIG. 8

INVEN TOR. 050/ L E. A DA M5 BY @QWM MM Dec. 7, 1954 c. E. ADAMS STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 2. 1948 INVENTOR. CEO/L E. ADAMS United States Patent 2,696,380 STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Cecil E. Adams, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Denison Engineering Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 2, 1948, Serial No. 57,929 13 Claims. (Cl. 271-2.5)

This invention relates generally to machine tools and more particularly to mechanism for feeding strip stock to apparatus for performing operations thereon, one type of such apparatus being a press.

An object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding mechanism, which will function as an accessory for a punch press and be operated in sequence therewith, by having a direct connection with the driving mechanism of the press.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism for strip material, such mechanism having a stock advancing carriage which will be operated with a harmonic motion, the carriage being uniformly accelerated and decelerated during movement in both directions, that is, when moving the strip stock toward the press and when moving in a reverse direction to secure a new purchase on the strip material.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding mechanism having a carriage disposed for driven by the driving mechanism of a press to which the feeding mechanism is applied, motion transmitting means being arranged between the carriage and the eccentric to transform the rotary motion of the eccentric into linear motion on the part of the carriage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding mechanism of the type mentioned in the preceding paragraph, with means for gripping the strip stock during the advance movement of the carriage, the gripping means being operated by certain movements of the motion transmitting means between the eccentric and the carriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding mechanism having a reciprocating slide or carriage, on which is arranged a stock gripping means, and means for imparting movement to the carriage, such means including a rotary eccentric or crank and a connecting rod, the latter swinging back and forth, as the crank rotates, and transmitting linear movement to the carriage, the swinging movement of the connecting rod being utilized to operate the stock gripping means, the latter being so constructed and arranged that it will be operated to grip and release the stock at the ends of the reciprocatory strokes of the carriage when the linear motion thereof has substantially ceased.

It is also an object of the invention to provide mechanism of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph with stock gripping means powered by springs and having means, operated by the eccentric crank and connecting rod utilized to transmit motion to the carriage of the mechanism, to retract the jaws of the gripping means against the force of the springs when the carriage is at one extremity of its travel and exposes the jaws to the force of the springs when the carriage is at the other extremity of its travel, the clamping and unclamping of the jaws taking place when the connecting rod is swinging at its fastest rate which will be at the time the carriage is stationary or moving at a substantially imperceptible rate.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a mechanical press shown in Fig. 2 this carriage 1 surfaces of the side 2 provided with strip feeding mechanism formed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the strip feeding mechanism on the plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken through the mechanism on the plane indicated by the line Ill-III of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the strip feeding mechanism on the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, this view showing the strip feeding mechanism at the end of an advanced stroke.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the mechanism during the retraction stroke of the carriage.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken through the stationary stock gripping mechanism forming a part of the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken through the stock gripping mechanism on the plane indicated by the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, are plan views partly in section of the feeding mechanism showing the same in different stages of operation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially to Fig. 1, the numeral designates a mechanical press of the rotating crank type. The press 20 may be of many types, the one shown being selected merely for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not by way of limitation. This press 20 includes a frame 21, having side members 22, which are connected by suitable cross members 23. The side members are equipped with guides 24 in which a cross head 25 slides, this cross head constituting the ram of the press and furnishing a mounting for tools, or, other equipment used to perform operations on material supplied to the press. The cross head 25 is connected to one end of a connecting rod 26, the opposite end of this member being pivotally supported by a crank shaft 27 which is journalled in bearings 28 at the upper ends of the side members 22.

One end of this crank shaft is equipped with a pulley 30, which may also be weighted to serve as a fly-Wheel and belt means 31 extends around the pulley and transmits rotary motion from a driving motor 32 to the crank shaft 27. The opposite end of the crank shaft is provided with a bevel gear 33, this gear being disposed in meshing relation with a similar gear 34 mounted on the upper end of a countershaft 35 this countershaft is supported for rotation in bearings 36 secured to one end of a side member 22. The mechanism thus far described is shown merely for the purpose of indicating a mechanical press and is not intended to limit the present application, the application being directed to a strip feeding mechanism for use in connection with any kind of a press.

The lower end of the shaft 35 carries a block 37, in which a dovetail slot 38 is formed in the under side. This slot 38 receives the head 40 of a crank pin 41, the shank end of which projects through one end of a connecting rod 42, the crank pin is provided with a nut 43 and washer 44 to prevent the separation of the connecting rod 42 therefrom. This connecting rod is formed at the opposite end with a threaded opening 45 and is split as at 46, so that it may be rigidly but adjustably secured to the end of a sleeve 47, this sleeve being provided with fast lead internal screw threads 48. These screw threads rece ve similar threads provided on the shank of a clevis bolt 51, this member having a bifurcated end 52 through which pins 53 extend. The end 52 of the member 51 is arranged to straddle a bar-like gripping jaw 54, WhlCh is provided with slots 55 through which the pins 53 also project. The end portions of the jaw are formed with sockets 56 to receive and locate the lower ends of compression springs 57, the upper portion of these compression sprmgs being disposed in openings 58 formed in a boss 60 provided on a plate-like carriage body 61. As body has bevelled sides 62 for engagement by cap strips 63, which are secured to the upper edges of side rails 64 formed on the body 65, constltutmg the support for the strip feeding mechanism, the s1de portlons of the carriage 61 resting upon the upper rails and are held for sliding move catory stroke in one-direction tration, with thegmovables jawi 54. Since-both sjawscare mounted on the carriage:;they 'willmovei therewithtivhen :the carriage is reciprocated. .=:Jaw-54a'isnguided forsmovement toward and away.from=jawn66,nthe formert'being moved toward the latterwby-rsprings 57uandraawaynthererfromrin opposition to the. force 'ofnthe. springsiby .thet ro- ::tation of the sleeve .45 and ;.the rreaction r of then-threads 48 with the threads 50 on the clevis pin. The: jaws are rshown in stockqgrippingtposition in-fFig. 4 and innopen or stockreleasing positionlin'Eigi 5. l Rotary-:movement ofsthesleeve :45 t effectxthe :movement .of jaw 54.3.1 8 caused by the swinging movement iofnthes'connecting :rod or lever 42 in response to the rotation of shaft 35:1and -block 37.

The body 65 ofxthestrip?feeding;mechanism=may.sbe :secured in any..desirable1- manner;-=:to athe frame of the 2press:20;;or; it:maybepsupportedzbyranindependent framework. It includes a plate-likebasesetztion ,67. and the side rails 64:: extending "longitudinally; :thereof. At a;=.point adjacent ,the outer ends :thereof,: the. side'. rails' r64zare provided with openings 68 for the reception-of- .the end portions :of tthergrippingrrolls :7 (bathe; SidClll'flilS .areialso: protvided t With horizontal: openings 7L -IaSl-1lllllSIITa lld.-lin iFigs. 6 and 7, which receive spring pressed.plungers'.:72. :These members engage the: end portions iofizthezrollsflfl. and-.urge them .tOWQId :the 1 outer end 1 Ofivthe; side. rails. %When; :the rollsare urged in this direction ,zzthe concave vsurfaces 30f .theopenings "68. will cause vthezrolls vto xbe umoved toward one anothertand grip strip material:insertedztherebetween. ,vIn some instances it lSQdGSiIZblBQIO eifect openingzmove- -ment :orwseparation ofntheserolls :and tthiszroperation. is accomplished through ,ther/rotationtof a rodl'73L-also1ex- .tendingrbetweenandcjournalledoinzthe. side trails this rod 73 is provided with zcamxsurface's .74, Which'cooperate with ball l elements 75. 1 disposechsin -registration therewith. ;These-=;ball elements engage: the :rolls 37 0 1 and: force such rollsnapart whennmoved towardw-the.same through the rotationuof; zthe' rod 73. .Thisvrodnmayube: manually-,irotated through. the oscillation of zpin -76 projecting therefrom at the exterior 'of/eonei'ofithenside rails. 'Fhe r'olls may 5136 mechanicallyseparated .in".the-.event i'tis desired tofrelease' the -stock :during,-s.or; immediately prion to a forming roperation; thereon; through the provision of a second transverse. rod'71 at .-the.lfront-po'rtion of'the body :65githis .t-rod. (haying. ac leverfe'78nsecured to the ramend .thereofu'and adapted: toizbeweng-aged'by the ram -of-the press, or;- an; element :movablefltherewith. Suitable motion transmittingimeans 80 extends between the"r'od""-77 and ithe irod..'-73',. so that when? the rod 77 is' rocked, due to :the;.engagement :ofi the vlever '78 -by the-ram -orits equivalent, rod. 73: will i also zbe-arocked' tonmove b'al-l elements .75 :between rolls 7 0 to effect their separation. .siltsshould be Iobvious from the-foregoing description taken inlconnection withthe'accompanying drawings-that when the crank shaft of the press is revolved, the shaft 35 vwill: beurotated; this-rotary movement will" cause ;-the rotation :of the block"'37="about the -'axis-=sh'aft ZaSJ-ahd crank pin 41-Wi1l be 'revolved-or moved-ina circle'therewith..-I-Since" this crank pin isconnect'edto the outer end 'ofith'elever 42, this e'nd of-the"leverzwillbe swungabout the axis-ofntheclevis pin 51. Due to the rotary movement ofi the 'cra-nk ping the carriage '61* will-be reciprocated' in its waystoward and away from-the*-press"' 20. By reason of the/swinging movement of'the-lever 142 "and the. provision 'of'athe "threaded connectiorr-betweenxthe sleeve 45and clevisbolt '51',' 'the jaw- 54-will be" moved toward and away from' theajaw 66. Therthre'ad is -so calculated andth lever= so adjusted {on "the sleeve "47that when the :carriage is located' -most' remotely from the press-the jaw =54 will be -just' l-ightly touching thestock. It willbe observed that-the" reaction'bfrthe'"threads in the -sleeve- 47 with those on thelclevis bolt '51 continues as long as connecting -rod"42-;isr'swinging andthat'the sleeve"'47' revolves in one; direction when'the outer end of thelever '42" swings "toward one side of the, longitudinal axis of: the feeding'mechanism and. intheopposite Idirec tion when the lever-swings towardrthe.othensideu.IErom a'comparison 'of Figs. 8 to 1l,..inclusi.ve,- itwwilhbe: seen that when'thercarriage.is at the mid-point. fi a-ireciprothe lever M2. will -bendisposed as far toward one: side of. the.:longitudinaltcenterrofiithe 4 feeding mechanism as it may swing and when the car'- riage'is -disposed at the-same- "point while moving in the lmechanism.

opposite direction the lever will be disposed at the extreme point on the opposite side of the center. Since the crank pin 41 moves in a circular path it and the lever 42, will gradually slow down until the point of direction reversal is reached thenfitheemotion will gradually increase. These members will be moving rapidly when the carriage reaches-' the pointsat-which the direction of movement .thereof is reversed.

'The'slot's '55 are proyidedin' the jaw54 to permit-the over travelof the clevis bolt --5l"after" the jaw. 54' has engaged the stock during a clamping operation. It is desirable to.have-.the jaw 54 engage the material-when the carriage is stopped at the end of its retractive movement and immediatelyl-sbefore startingritssadvance stroke. To accomplish this timing the threaded connection between the connecting rod 42 and sleeve 47 has been provided; by. looseningithe clamp rscrew =in'cthe end;.of;'zleverj-42, the;:sleeve 47vmay be adjustedmntilythe;jaw,j-ust barely touches thew-material. after whichvthelclampingwscrew tin lever 42 may be tightened to;secure;ithezleverrandasleeve t-in-s adjusted relation. This radjustmentajalso gcompensates .-for--. differences in .-thickness- :of; material ubfiinguffid by; :the Astthe-lever 242:.continuescto move beyond .the :PGSitlOII' shown in rFigZ .10. itheicleyis boltESL-rvillzcontinue to move toward the stock and ja s/p54 will be urged; by springs 57.3.i11 Qj gripping; engagementwm'thkthe stock. .The ;gripping\actionwcontiuuesrruntil the carriage has just about reached I zthec end tof rits (advancing :.stroke .even. though; the clevi's belt: 511-. started :to-tmoverupwaridly when thewcranlcrpm-1411rotatedamorecthanminety degrees from the-position -ShOWII3iI1r-EigL 10 Ion-beyond; itheupositionrshownin- Big 11. j-r-Whentheacarriagei isainuthezmost advanced position ,--sho wn in- Fig-.1. 8yithQ'kjaVW S4 will: be tjust 'itouchinglthe stock. :iThe cleviscbolt SI Will, however, -;be moving-in nanzzupward direction ands-as :tthewswinging movementof lever-.42. continuesntheapins SSJ-Carr-iedrrby .the-bolt- 5l' wilhcngagetthe ends. of the; slotsrSS .andtmove ..the jaw #54 away fromnthe' stock. v The ticontinued move- .rnent of the.lever"42 alsov causesnthercarriagento LIBII'fiCt .but asthe .jaw 54::1'13811366115 released;;frornnthe stoclczthe latter will not be movedwearwardly. The stock: is also .held against-movement u'n: 'thisedirection by the-"gripping vrollsq70, the -mov.ement.-of= the. stock irrthis .directionatend- -1ng- ;to movet the rolls 57 0! into; tighter :lclamping :relation- .ship. .'Movement of' the: stock-.ina-zforwa-rdadirectionr by .the =mo=vahle jaws and: carriage zhaszzthe roppositez'etfeotzon he grrpprngrolls 70,-.since movement-rofrthese rollsctoward the press will permit the rolls to separateiandxre- .leaserthes-stock. .:These.ro1ls-.-.wi1l, therefore, oiferclittle, or, no. resistance: to the-feedingrofrthesstockztcrrthepress. It should .be.obvious.from :aninspection-iof Fig: 3:.that .the, .cranl -.pin 41s1may be :adjustedalongitudinally iOfiI-ihfi slot 38 -to vary-the distancmbetween rthevcrankzpimand ishaftz35.-,whenr it isndesirednto vary-.athe amount of stock-viedon;each-:treciprocatiom;of ithe carr age. .Ther timing-tofixthis feeding-"zoperationzrrelattve towthe stroke .0f :thearam will'zbezdeterminech byfsfthe angular relation. betweenfithe lShaftZ35J(2.1'ldklth6lblOClQ'i37. S1nce.-gears33. and-34 are duplicatestshaft-z35 -.willrevolve at the-same. :rate-aas icrankhshaft. l27gnthe zfeedingz strokes will, therefore, occur-l improperly timedr relation: with :the press ng. strokes. J oft thee-ram or; frequency: ofzzroperation of. the..latter. The'lramm-aythus The] manually controlted through. the operation. oi aosuitable tclutch withouhraffectlng the sequence .ofioperation; ofl-theurami and feeding mechanism.

While the formof embodiment of,the.present.invention as'herein'disclosed constltutes a 1',' Strip -feedingmechanism'comprising' a base; a. carrier supported-atop reciprocationon-said basefst ripi stock gripping -means' provided on"sa'idcarrier; "driving means -forsaid mechanism"having arotaryshaft; an eccentric operated by said rotary shaft; a connecting rod pivot'ally secured to said *eccentric andsaid carrier, said connecting rod ltransmittingzmotion' from said: eccentric to said carrier -to =cause reciprocation-thereofiisaid "eccentric serving to roclc said connectingroda'bout an' axis'on said carrier, and cam means between said connecting; rod and said stock gripping means, the rocking motion"of:said .conneotingrod' serving to actuate said' cammeans'to control the movement of said stock gripping means into and out supported for reciprocation on said base; stock gripping means provided on said carrier, said means having operating elements relatively movable about an axis; an cecentric element supported for rotation about a second axis disposed in parallel relation to the first-mentioned axis; and motion transmitting means connecting said eccentric element, said stock gripping means and said carrier, said motion transmitting means being disposed for simultaneous linear movement in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said carrier and swinging movement laterally with respect to the movement of said carrier, said motion transmitting means utilizing the movement of said eccentric element to either side of a plane passing through the axis of rotation thereof at right angles to the path of movement of said carrier to reciprocate said carrier and the movement of said eccentric element to either side of a'plane passing through such axis parallel to the path of movement of said carrier to control the operation of said stock gripping means.

3. Feeding mechanism comprising a base; a carrier supported for reciprocation on said base; stock gripping means provided on said carrier, said gripping means having cooperating threaded elements; an eccentric member supported for rotation about an axis disposed at right angles to the path of movement of said carrier; and a motion-transmitting lever connecting said eccentric member and said carrier, said motion-transmitting lever being connected with said carrier through one of the threaded elements of said gripping means for pivotal movement about the axis of the threaded elements and utilizing the movement of said eccentric member laterally with respect to the path of movement of said carrier to control the operation of said stock gripping means and the movement of said eccentric member longitudinally of the path of movement of said carrier to efiect the movement of such carrier.

4. Feeding mechanism comprising a base; guide means provided on said base; a carrier supported for reciprocation in said guide means; a stationary jaw on said carrier; a second jaw disposed on said carrier for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw, said second jaw having a threaded member restrained against rotation; spring means tending to urge said second jaw toward said stationary jaw; a second threaded member cooperating with said first-mentioned threaded member, said second threaded member being supported for rotary movement; a crank pin supported for orbicular movement about an axis extending parallel to the axis of said threaded member; and a connecting rod secured at one end to said crank pin and at the other end to said second threaded member, the longitudinally component of the orbicular movement of said crank pin with respect to said guide means being transmitted to said carrier, and the transverse component of the orbicular movement of said crank pin with respect to said guide means serving to oscillate said second threaded member.

5. Feeding mechanism comprising a base; guide means on said base; a carrier supported for reciprocation by said guide means; a stationary jaw on said carrier; a second jaw disposed on said carrier for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw; spring means tending to urge said second jaw toward said stationary jaw; oscillatable means for moving said second jaw in opposition to said spring means; and operating means for simultaneously reciprocating said carrier on said guide means and actuating said jaw moving means, said operating means having a revolving crank and a member connected at one end to said crank and at the other to said oscillatable means.

6. Feeding mechanism comprising a base; guide means on said base; a carrier supported for reciprocation by said guide means; a stationary jaw on said carrier; a second jaw disposed on said carrier for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw; spring means tending to urge said second aw toward said stationary jaw; oscillatable means for moving said second jaw in opposition to said spring means; and operating means for simultaneously imparting uniformly accelerated and decelerated motion to said carrier and said jaw moving means said operating means having a revolving crank and a member connected at one end to said crank and at the other end to said oscillatable means, the motion of saidcarr'ier and jaw moving means occurring ninety degrees out of phase.

7. Stock feeding mechanism comprising a base; a carrier guided for reciprocatory movement on said base; a stationary jaw on said carrier; a second jaw supported on said carrier for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw; relatively rotatable members on said car rier for imparting movement to said movable jaw; a crank supported for rotation about an axis disposed in spaced parallel relation to the members; and a link connected with said crank and one of said relatively rotatable members, rotation of said crank serving to simultaneously reciprocate said carrier and impart relative rotary movement to at least one of said members to actuate said movable jaw.

8. Stock feeding mechanism comprising a base; a carrier guided for reciprocatory movement on said base; a stationary jaw on said carrier; a second jaw supported on said carrier for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw; a first member disposed for rotary motion on said carrier; a second member connected with said movable jaw and responsive to rotary oscillations of said first member to actuate said movable jaw; a crank supported for rotation about an axis disposed in spaced parallel relation to the axis of rotation of said first member; and a link rigidly secured at one end to said first mgmber and pivotally connected to said crank at the ot er.

9. Stock feeding mechanism comprising a base; a carrier guided for reciprocatory movement on said base; a stationary jaw on said carrier; a second jaw supported on said carrier for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw; resilient mens tending to urge said second jaw toward said stationary jaw; a first member disposed for rotary motion on said carrier; a second member connected with said movable jaw and responsive to rotary oscillations of said first member to actuate said movable jaw in opposition to said resilient means; a crank supported for rotation about an axis disposed in spaced parallel relation to the axis of rotation of said first memher; and a link rigidly secured at one end to said first member and pivotally connected to said crank at the other.

10. Stock feeding mechanism comprising a base; a carrier guided for reciprocatory movement on said base; a stationary jaw on said carrier; a second jaw supported on said carrier for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw; a first member disposed for rotary motion on said carrier; a second member responsive to rotary oscillations of said first member to move toward and away from said stationary jaw; a lost motion connection between said second member and said second jaw; a crank supported for rotary movement about an axis disposed in spaced parallel relation to the axis of rotation of said first member; and a link rigidly secured at one end to said first member and pivotally connected to said crank at the other end.

11. Strip feeding mechanism comprising a base; a carrier supported for reciprocation on said base; a stationary jaw on said carrier; a second jaw guided for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw; reaction means disposed on said carrier and movable jaw, a part of said reaction means being disposed for oscillatory movement to actuate said movable jaw; a shaft journaled for rotary movement; an eccentric crank secured for rotation with said shaft; and a rod member connected at one end to said crank and at the opposite end to the oscillatory part of said reaction means for rocking movement about the axis thereof, said eccentric crank moving said rod member in a direction parallel to the movement of said carrier to efiect reciprocation thereof and rocking said rod member about the axis of oscillation of said reaction means to actuate said movable jaw.

12. Feeding mechanism comprising a base; a carrier supported for reciprocation on said base; stock gripping means provided on said carrier; an eccentric element supported for rotation about an axis disposed at right angles to the path of movement of said carrier; and a single member connecting said eccentric element, said carrier and said stock gripping means, the movement of said eccentric element on either side of a plane passing through the axis of rotation thereof at right angles to the path of movement of said carrier being transmitted by said single member to said carrier to cause the reciprocation thereof, the movement of said eccentric element on either side of axis of relative rotation of said 

